Church drops plan to buy Portage Theater

A Northwest Side church has dropped its bid to purchase the Portage Theater in the Six Corners shopping district, a move the local alderman had warned would threaten efforts at a revival in the area.

Chicago Tabernacle Church released a statement Thursday afternoon, announcing it had pulled its application with the city Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use to operate as a house of worship at the site, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave.

"This has been a long and arduous process, and we are glad to see progress in the search for a new home that better suits our needs," said the statement from the church, which currently operates in the Albany Park neighborhood. Pastor Matthew Reneau declined to discuss where the church is looking to move instead of the Portage.

Ald. John Arena, 45th, has credited the silent films and other art house movies shown at the Portage with drawing crowds to Six Corners, at the intersection of Milwaukee, Irving Park Road and Cicero Avenue. He said having a church there would make it tougher for restaurants to get liquor licenses, and would hurt foot traffic at other businesses.

"Nothing drives the economy like a cultural attraction such as the Portage Theater," said Arena, adding he's trying to help Chicago Tabernacle find another building.